Statement

by Tony Jones concerning allegations of abuse

For many years, I have attempted to respect the privacy of my ex-wife, Julie
McMahon Jones, and our children by not responding to Julies repeated allegations
against me. A failed marriage is, I think by definition, the result of failure on multiple
fronts. I have tried, for many years to admit both publicly and privately the ways in
which I fell short as a partner in my marriage. However, after countless false
accusations in public forums, I am compelled to respond.

For years, Julie has been posting online, even starting her own blogs about it
(http://narcisissiticpersonalitydisorderwrathandwreckage.wordpress.com and
http://emergentcultsscandals.blogspot.com). Her false, abusive, bullying, and
harassing comments about me still reside on many blogs and on Facebook and
Twitter. Recently, however, these lies and falsehoods have been amplified. The
result has not only been increased personal attacks from strangers, but attacks
against my friends and colleagues.

There has long been documentable proof of Julies lies, and now the time has come
for that documentable truth. I offer this response to every allegation that I know of.

Throughout this response, you will see reference to documents in brackets. Each of
those documents exists and will be made public through legal channels. Many
documents, like court orders and police reports, are already a matter of public
record.

I will preface the point-by-point response by saying that for many years, I was in a
deeply troubled marriage to Julie. I literally and actually have thousands of emails
and text messages from Julie that are full of insults, obscenities, threats, and
homophobic slurs toward me. You will find no such messages returned to her from
me, and I sent her no such messages. We saw at least four different marriage
counselors and also jointly attended a 6-week anger management course at our
church in an attempt to deal with our constant arguing. In spite of that, our marriage
did not survive.

I have never once physically assaulted Julie McMahon. I say this unequivocally,
without reservation, and in the strongest possible terms. Any allegation to the
contrary is a lie.

Further, I have never even spanked my children, much less abused them in any way.
Any allegation to the contrary is a lie.

While I obviously made mistakes, as every spouse does, Julies behavior grew
increasingly erratic over time and continues to be highly erratic today. As recently
as two days ago, she entered the sanctuary of my parents church during the Sunday
morning worship, verbally accosted them, and waved legal documents at them. She

then called the police and argued with an officer for nearly 20 minutes before
leaving the premises.

As you will see in the narrative below, Julie has repeatedly used the police and child
protective services in an effort to harass and intimidate me. She has never produced
a single piece of documentary evidence to back up any of her claims, nor has any law
enforcement officer, child protection case worker, guardian ad litem, or Family
Court judge taken a single action against me. Each time, they have found her claims
baseless, which they are.

Now I will respond to each allegation in turn:

Allegation: Julie has full custody of the children and Tony has the minimum
allowable visitation accorded by state law.

Julie McMahon September 16, 2014 at 8:39 pm
My 3 kids are wonderful, brave and courageous. They live with me full time due
to the discoveries in the custody evaluation and psych evals. MN law awarded
the minimum visitation.
Julie McMahon September 25, 2014 at 6:55 pm
He has regular visitation. Originally he asked that I have sole legal and sole
physical I countered with shared legal because kids need a dad. Yes, I agree it
would appear differently. Skilled people can make things appear not what they
are.

Documented Fact: Tony and Julie have joint legal custody, and Julie has sole
physical custody, which in Minnesota means that Tony has less than 45% parenting
time. Tony has the children every Tuesday night, every other weekend, for three
weeks in the summer, and various holidays on rotation. Most years, it comes out to
between 35% and 40% parenting time for Tony [Joint Marital Termination
Agreement and Judgment and Decree of Dissolution, File 27-FA-08-5921, filed in
Hennepin County on November 17, 2009].

Tony never asked that Julie would have sole legal and sole physical custody, and
Julie will produce no evidence to that effect.

A guardian ad litem reported to the court that Tony and Julie should have joint legal
and joint physical custody [Guardian Ad Litem Report, July 26, 2010].


Allegation: Tony retained a lawyer before Julie and planned a divorce.
Julie McMahon September 25, 2014 at 8:22 pm
Yes, Kate. I am beginning to think that some of them got played and were pawns
in a strategic plan. Especially since it was discovered in a canceled check that a

lawyer was already retained when he made the group believe that he was doing
everything in his power to save his marriage.

Documented Fact: Julie contacted Karen Schreiber, Esq., of Lindquist & Vennum,
PLLP, via email on July 21, 2008 [email correspondence, July 21, 2008]. On July 24,
Julie wrote Tony an email, copying her correspondence with Schreiber, adding,
Papers will be waiting for you [email correspondence, July 24, 2008].

Julie first threatened to divorce Tony in 2001 if Tony did not put a fence in their
back yard. She threatened him with divorce dozens of times after that [email
correspondence May 8, 2008; June 1, 2008; June 4, 2008; June 16, 2008; June 17,
2008; June 27, 2008; et al]. Tony met with a lawyer once for a consultation in June,
2008, to discuss Julies threats of divorce. He retained that attorney in late August,
2008. Tony never threatened divorce until he ultimately served divorce papers on
August 29, 2008.

On July 28, 2008, Julie wrote an email to Tony, Mark Scandrette, and Doug Pagitt
entitled, This is my attorney and I would like the name of yours ASAP-yes, it is
inconvenient to get divorced and you may have to make it a priority; the body of
the email was a list of Karen Schreibers credentials [email correspondence, July 28,
2008]. On July 30, 2008, Julie emailed Tony that she had divorce papers in front of
her, drawn up by Karen Schreiber [email correspondence, July 30, 2008]. On August
3, Julie again sent an email to Tony with Karen Schreibers credentials and wrote, I
am going for full custody, spousal support, restraining order for mental and
emotional abuse and harassment of your cult members. Supervised visitation is
what you can hope for [email correspondence, August 3, 2008].

On July 28, 2008, Julie sent an email to Doug Pagitt stating that her lawyer had
discovered that Tony, in fact, did not have a lawyer on retainer [email
correspondence, July 28, 2008], yet she continues to claim online that Tony had a
lawyer before she did.

Allegation: There was phone contact in phone records between Tony and Courtney
Perry in May 2008.
Julie McMahon September 25, 2014 at 8:22 pm
It is very difficult to believe Danielle Shroyer (her pastor at Journey church) and
the church where the dissertation was being written about, knew and observed
nothing in those frequent trips to Dallas? If she had no idea, then I wish she
should say so. I am not sure because only Brad is talking [] Did you know there
were daily phone calls between the two starting May 2008?

Documented Fact: Prior to September, 2008, Tony and Courtney were merely
distant acquaintances, and they did not even have one anothers phone numbers.
Julie will not produce these phone records, because they do not exist. Any 214 area

code calls from Tonys phone are to Danielle Shroyer or Brad Cecil or others
involved in his 2008 book tour.

Julie was served with divorce papers on August 29, 2008. On September 3, 2008,
Courtney was in Minneapolis, covering the Republican National Convention for the
Dallas Morning News. Courtney had gotten Tonys phone number from an email, and
she texted Tony to see if he happened to work in downtown Minneapolis. Tony was
downtown at the time, having just been granted a harassment restraining order
against Julie [Hennepin County Court File HA 27-CV-0821651]. Tony and Courtney
had lunch that day. They kept in touch that fall; they saw each other again for New
Years Eve, 2008.

Courtney lived in Dallas until 2011, when she moved to Minnesota and she and Tony
were married.

Allegation: Tony and Courtney were in a relationship before divorce papers were
served, as proven by an email.
Julie McMahon September 15, 2014 at 8:58 am
I tried to "transcend" blogging with these people who "through hours of prayer
and discernment" decided I was crazy while their crony was having an affair.
Then when I had evidence sex emails.

Documented Fact: Tony served Julie with divorce papers in August, 2008. Those
papers were filed September, 2008. Julie illegally entered Tonys rental home on
December 27, 2008 and obtained an email written between Courtney and Tony on
December 27, 2008 regarding Tonys flight to Dallas [email correspondence,
December 27, 2008; Edina Police Report, December 27, 2008]. Tony and Courtney
began communicating after Tony filed for divorce, and after he had moved out of the
house with Julie. There was no relationship between Tony and Courtney prior to the
divorce proceedings.

In a text message on August 22, 2009, months before the divorce was final, Julie
texted Tony that she was dating someone [text message, August 22, 2009].

Allegation: Tony tore a ligament on Julies shoulder in an act of abuse and has MRI
to prove it.
Julie McMahon September 17, 2014 at 9:01 pm
I will show you the MRI with the Doctor notes and you can see the tear on the Xray I have.

Documented Fact: On the night that Julie was served with divorce papers, she
called 911 and attempted to have Tony arrested. The police report indicates no
harm to Julie [Edina Police Case #08-002672].

Several days later, Julie went to the Edina Police station claiming contusions to her
shoulder and again attempted to have Tony arrested. The police report makes no
mention of an X-Ray or MRI, and no action was taken against Tony. No X-Ray or MRI
has ever been produced in the child custody evaluation or in any subsequent court
action.

Allegation: Tony is an abuser.

Twitter bio of JMac6301: A survivor of spiritual, phyisical [sic] and emotional
abuse at the hands of a diagnosed narcissist. I believe in love, redemption and
healing. Truth and justice.
Julie McMahon September 24, 2014 at 1:34 am
My abuser who had an inside as police chaplain for my city told police I had "split
personality and would slip into other voices." A-maz-ing shameless lengths to
discredit! Oh, I recognize what you are describing all too well.

Documented Fact: Tony never abused Julie. Tony never abused his children.

Abuse was never mentioned in any divorce settlement, mediation, custody, or
financial discussions. Tony and Julie have had nearly a dozen appearances in Family
Court, and never once has Julie or her attorney alleged abuse in any form.

Since the divorce, Julie has used allegations of abuse to threaten and intimidate
Tony, and to drive a wedge between Tony and the children. She has made numerous
false reports to law enforcement and child protection personnel. Some of those
incidents include:

On the night that Julie was served with divorce papers, she called the police and
attempted to get Tony arrested for pushing her. The police report states that there
was no evidence of injury. The police officers suggested that Tony leave the house.
Tony left the home [Edina Police Case #08-002672]. Julie then took the children to a
family cabin in Wisconsin for two days.

Several days later, Julie went back to the police, again alleging a shoulder injury, and
attempted to have Tony arrested.

When the police would not take action, Julie came to the home of Tonys parents
several times. She banged on doors and windows, demanding to speak to Tony, and
she called his phone dozens of times, threatening to ruin his life and career [Edina
Police Case #08-002672, Officers Supplemental Report]. On the advice of his
attorney, Tony filed for and received a restraining order against Julie the following
day [Hennepin County Court File HA 27-CV-0821651].

On June 12, 2009, Julie reported Tony as an abuser to the regional office of the Boy
Scouts of America. Tony was serving as a Cub Scout den leader for their sons den.
The Boy Scouts of America investigated Tony and allowed him to continue in
leadership [email correspondence, June 12, 2009; June 15, 2009; June 27, 2009; June
29, 2009].

On June 19, 2009, while driving the children to the family lake cabin in Crow Wing
Country, two deputies pulled Tony over. One made Tony stand with his hands on a
squad car where the children could see him while the other got in Tonys car and
questioned the children about whether their father hit them or touched their
genitals. Julie had called in a report of child endangerment. The deputies took no
action [Crow Wing County Sheriff dispatch log].

On December 30, 2010, while at a waterpark with the children in Alexandria,
Minnesota, a sheriff's deputy showed up and questioned Tony. Julie had called in a
report of child endangerment. The police took no action [Douglas County Sheriff
dispatch log].

Four times since the divorce, Julie has reported Tony to Hennepin County Child
Protection [Case #214917089: September 11, 2008, SISS Intake #214879329;
December 31, 2009, SISS Intake #259006841; May 1, 2011, SSIS Intake
#263432344; October 25, 2011, SSIS Intake #271265352]. Each time, caseworkers
pulled the children out of school and also interviewed Tony. Each of the cases was
closed with no action taken and no support services recommended for the family.


Allegation: Tony is a deadbeat dad who does not pay child support.

Julie McMahon October 29, 2014 at 9:45 am
He has never once willingly given a penny for his kids but money has been pried
from his cold hands through the county collections. His income streams are
craftily covered up through his various and there are many revenue streams.

Documented Fact: Tony has overpaid child support to Julie and receives
reimbursement checks every month from Hennepin County for that overpayment.
Julie currently owes Tony $2821.76 [Hennepin County Child Support Online, case
0015157632-01].

In 2013, Tony brought a motion before the Family Court, requesting a reduction in
child support and spousal maintenance payments, based on ability to pay and loss of
income. The Court found a clerical error in the original divorce decree [Joint Marital
Termination Agreement and Judgment and Decree of Dissolution, File 27-FA-08-
5921]. Tony was not represented by an attorney at the time of the initial divorce
settlement. Julies attorney, whether by error or design, incorrectly calculated
Tonys support payments in the settlement. The Court ruled that the amounts
ordered had been too high, and reduced payment amounts retroactively [Amended

Findings of Fact and Order Regarding Modification of Spousal Maintenance and

Child Support, File 27-FA-08-5921, filed January 16, 2013].

Julie challenged that ruling to the Minnesota State Court of Appeals. The Court of
Appeals ruled 3-0 in Tonys favor [File #A13-0482, filed March 3, 2014].

Hennepin County garnishes Tonys wages because Julie requested that action be
taken, as can anyone in Hennepin County who receives child support.

Tony supplies his full federal and state tax returns to Julie, when requested, every
other year, as required by Minnesota state law. He does not hide any income from
Julie nor from the IRS.

Tony was audited by the IRS and the State of Minnesota for 2008, 2009, and 2010
because Julie had not claimed Tonys spousal maintenance payments as taxable
income for those years. Through a long and arduous process, Tony showed proof of
every payment, and both agencies ended the audit with no adjustment to Tonys tax
liability [IRS Letter 3581, February 19, 2013; Minnesota Department of Revenue,
Letter L1706357376, October 9, 2013].

Julie also owes Tony $732.82 in fees from her loss in the Court of Appeals [Notice,
Statement, and Claim of Costs and Disbursements Incurred By Prevailing Party,
Minnesota Court of Appeals, Case A13-482, filed March 4, 2014].


Allegation: Tony orchestrated Julies arrest.

Julie McMahon September 18, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Fast forward to June 2013. The children were having visitation with their dad. I
had just recovered from a surgery. I asked if they could stay a day or two more, if
I needed it, because I was not supposed to drive. I felt better the next day and
asked for their return. He refused. I let it go....smelling the gas fumes from the
gas lighting a mile away. The next morning, I asked for them to be returned
immediately. Your visitation time is over and they have dental appointments.
Before I left the house I called his cell phone and said, "I'm on my way. They
have dental appointments." When I arrived 3 Edina police cop cars where there
waiting. He was waiting with a recording in his hand and said, "Arrest her now
she just called my cell." Officer Joy Frogadt, his friend from police chaplain days,
and ride-a-longs, and chili fests was the arresting officer. I did not know it but I
had violated the OFP from 6 months prior by calling his cell instead of internet
communication. A humane cop there said, "Do you really want to do this in front
of your kids?" All 3 kids watching in the window. "She broke the law, arrest her
NOW. Do your job!" THAT is why he would like you all to google the public
records....the arrest has been continued for over a year without conviction,
because its bogus. The courts amended the OFP and that could never happen
today.

Documented Fact: Tony did not orchestrate the arrest. This is a lie. Julie called the
police, as both the police report and her own emails to Tony indicate. When she
arrived at the house, she banged on the door and screamed that the police were on
their way. Tony also called the police once the situation became frightening.

Julie had informed Tony that she was having surgery, would be on two weeks
bedrest, and could not care for the children. She agreed to let Tony keep the children
for those two weeks [Our Family Wizard messages, June 26, 2013]. She also
communicated this through the children.

On June 28, 2013 at 6:59am, Julie called Tonys phone and said that she was coming
over to get the children. She also sent Our Family Wizard messages at 6:55am,
7:09am, 7:25am, 7:30am, 7:51am, and 8:12am. In the 7:51am message, she wrote
that she was calling the police. The police dispatch record shows that Julie called
911.

Tony responded to these messages with an Our Family Wizard message at 7:19am
that reads, Glad you're feeling better. I am taking [name redacted] to his dentist
appointment in a few minutes. Then [name redacted] has soccer practice. I will
bring the kids to you later this morning. [Name redacted] will ride his bike.

Julie then came to Tonys house, in violation of a harassment restraining order
[Hennepin County Court File 27-CV-12-24195, filed December 7, 2012]. Julie banged
on the door and screamed until the police arrived.

The police arrived, assessed the situation, and repeatedly asked Julie to leave the
premises. Julie refused to leave and was arrested [Edina Police Report 13001399].

The children did not witness this incident. As soon as Julie showed up at the house,
Courtney took two of the children to the basement office, turned on loud music, and
let them play video games. The other child slept through the entire incident.

Julie was taken to Hennepin County Jail and processed. She was released later that
day on bail. She is currently facing charges for this arrest.

On December 3, 2014, Tony was granted a new harassment restraining order
against Julie [Hennepin County Court File 27-CV-12-24195].

Julie filed a harassment restraining order against Tony in late 2013 [Hennepin
County Case #27-CO-13-8209]. That order was contested at a hearing on May 13,
2014 [court transcripts available], and that restraining was dismissed and vacated
for lacking evidence and not meeting the legal burden of proof [Hennepin County
Case #27-CO-13-8209, filed May 16, 2014].

Allegation: Tony had pre-planned to get custody of the children when Julie was
arrested.

Julie McMahon September 18, 2014 at 3:48 pm
THE KICKER??? He had a pre written an Ex Parte Legal document in his hand
asking the family courts to "Immediately change custody because their mother is
in jail." This was written BEFORE I arrived to pick up my children. Bone chilling...I
know! Sociopath behavior. Luckily, the wise judge saw straight through it
immediately and with a red marker x'd it out and wrote DENIED.

Documented Fact: After Julie was arrested, Tony emailed his lawyer and asked for
her advice [email correspondence, June 28, 2013]. She recommended that they
petition the Family Court for an ex parte order giving Tony sole custody for 21 days.
That motion was denied.


Allegation: Tony suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and that makes him
unfit as a father and spiritual leader.

Julie McMahon September 18, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Cornerstone a battered women's shelter was called by him and he told them he
needed this conviction because he and his wife do not feel safe. Further, the
Edina prosecuting attorney told us he wrote her letters touting the "crazy
campaign" and please help me I AM THE VICTIM. This very young advocate
woman with presumably little experience with diagnosed narcissist, wrote a letter
to the prosecuting attorney on his behalf stating you must convict because she is
crazy....JUST because he said so.
Julie McMahon September 22, 2014 at 7:59 pm
I experienced first hand spiritual abuse cleverly orchestrated by a diagnosed
narcissist.
Julie McMahon October 29, 2014 at 9:45 am
I was told early on when the self employed are also diagnosed narcissist....your
basically screwed.

Documented Fact: As part of the divorce proceedings, Tony and Julie underwent
psychological examinations. Tony was diagnosed with an Axis I diagnosis of NPD
(DSM-IV 301.81). Tony took this diagnosis seriously and immediately commenced
therapy. Tony is still under the care of the same therapist, and she has recently
diagnosed him with Acute Stress Disorder (DSM-V 308.30). Tony took an anti-
depressant, Wellbutrin, for a year during the divorce, but he is no longer taking any
medication. Tony is voluntarily submitting himself for another psychological
evaluation in 2015.

Julie received Axis I and Axis II diagnoses during the initial psychological evaluation.
She was subsequently ordered by the Family Court to undergo individual therapy

and dialectical behavioral therapy [Court Order, File 27-FA-08-5921, filed May 14,
2009].

When Julie was arrested on June 28, 2013, Tony was automatically assigned a
victims rights advocate at Cornerstone.


Allegation: Tony and Doug Pagitt concocted the categories of legal wife and
spiritual wife in order to cover up Tonys affair.

Julie McMahon September 15, 2014 at 8:58 am
Then when I had evidence sex emails and a 22 page psychological evaluation to
share with the 6 Emergent leaders who "discerned" my family needed to break
up so he could be with his "spiritual wife" not 1 of those....NOT 1 wanted to
"discern" that or anything else. Disgusting! Transcend that!

Documented Fact: There was no affair. Neither Tony nor Doug has ever used the
category spiritual wife or spiritual marriage.

Julie was the first to use the categories of spiritual marriage and spiritual wife
[text messages, September 30, 2008, 10:24pm; October 1, 2008, 5:16am; Our Family
Wizard messages, September 30, 2008, 11:41pm; October 1, 2008, 8:30pm; email,
October 1, 8:05pm]. In those messages, she refers to herself as Tonys spiritual
wife, and asserts that they are still spiritually married, even though legal divorce
proceedings have commenced. In reference to her Catholic belief about marriage,
Julie has often told Tony that they will always be spiritually married.

Tony neither uses nor subscribes to the idea of spiritual marriage. Doug and Tony
have never spoken about legal marriage versus spiritual marriage. Solomons
Porch as a church does not subscribe to these categories either. (Tony published an
e-book essay on marriage, arguing on theological grounds that clergy should stop
signing marriage licenses so that they would no longer serve as agents of the state;
this is a traditional position taken by many Anabaptist and other clergy, and it is the
pattern of marriage ceremonies in much of Europe.)

Julie fabricated these categories in the first month of the divorce proceedings, but
she now brazenly attributes them to Tony.

***
Conclusion

Many others have been implicated by Julie McMahon Joness online postings,
including but not limited to Doug Pagitt, Mark Scandrette, Danielle Shroyer, Brad
Cecil, Mike King, Brian McLaren and Phyllis Tickle. I will not speak for them. Each of
the allegations that Julie has made against them is a lie, and they have ample
documentary evidence to show that.

10


It makes me very unhappy to release this document. It is not something I ever
thought I would have to do. But I am doing it now because the rumors, lies, and false
allegations have become rampant. Even my own children have read terrible things
about me on the Internet falsehoods that will stay online indefinitely.

Abuse is a deadly serious issue. Many persons especially women and children
have been abused. In my nearly two decades as a youth pastor and police chaplain, I
witnessed many incidents of abuse, and I reported several to law enforcement.

When someone makes an allegation of abuse, that allegation should be taken
seriously. Julies allegations, like all allegations, should and must be taken seriously.
But when these claims have no basis in fact and can be refuted with actual evidence,
then those allegations should be dropped and stricken from the record. Every time
someone falsely claims abuse, it harms actual victims.

To all the actual victims of abuse, please be assured that I know that the suffering I
have endured over this controversy is nothing compared to the suffering that you
have endured at the hands of real abusers.



For legal questions, please contact Simon J. Trautmann, Esq., 612-644-3837
For media questions, please contact Blois Olson, 612-276-1678

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